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A Ballooning Crisis: Technical and Policy Recommendations on the Helium Shortage

A Ballooning Crisis: Technical and Policy Recommendations on the Helium Shortage. Emma Motl Honorary WISE intern 2012 August 1, 2012. Helium Shortage Overview. Helium shortage existed since 2006 Helium has numerous applications Federal Helium Reserve Program has existed since the 1960s

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A Ballooning Crisis: Technical and Policy Recommendations on the Helium Shortage

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  1. A Ballooning Crisis: Technical and Policy Recommendations on the Helium Shortage Emma Motl Honorary WISE intern 2012 August 1, 2012

  2. Helium Shortage Overview • Helium shortage existed since 2006 • Helium has numerous applications • Federal Helium Reserve Program has existed since the 1960s • Current legislation may determine the future of this finite resource

  3. Helium History • Interest began in WWI for defense • Continued use of Helium after WWI lead to the formation of the Bush Dome Reservoir/Federal Helium Reserve Program • People lost interest in helium towards the end of the 1900’s, but it has since regained importance for science and technology • Federal Helium Reserve will be liquidated in 2013 without updated legislation1 1Selling the Nation’s Helium Reserve. Washington, DC. National Academies, 2010.

  4. Uniqueness of Helium • Liquefies at lower temperature than all other elements6 • Chemically inert • Highest specific heat capacity of any gaseous element • Invisible- cannot be rendered radioactive7 6Energy Critical Elements. Washington, DC. APS, MRS, 2009. 7Mark Haynes’ Statement. House Helium Hearing. 7/20/12

  5. Uses of Helium Reisch, M.S. Helium Shortage Affecting Instrument Users To Extend Into 2013.. <http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/i29/Helium-Shortage-Affecting-Instrument-Users.html>.

  6. Helium Applications Daily Life Applications: • LCD screen manufacturing-used to make sleeve for glass tube in fiber optics • Welding for specialty metals- chemical inertness and high heat capacity • Processing of semiconductor phone chips- cryogenic use and to flush the vessels Selling the Nation’s Helium Reserve. Washington, DC. National Academies, 2010.

  7. Helium in Healthcare • Helium used as coolant for magnet in Magnet Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology • ~75,000 MRI scans/day, ~20,000 jobs at GE Healthcare alone are MRI specific8 • MRI machines require regular maintenance and helium top-offs • During shortage, many patients will wait for necessary scans 8Raush’s statement. House Helium Hearing. 7/20/12.

  8. Helium in Defense • Defense is where it all began and continues helium’s use as a lifting gas • Safer than hydrogen as it is less flammable • Previously used for air travel, currently used for observation in blimps and balloons • Helium-3 is used in neutron detectors at borders

  9. The Federal Helium Reserve • A reservoir of crude helium with 4 refiners attached • Provides 50% domestic and 35% global2 • Will cease being self-sufficient in 2013 due to 1996 Helium Privatization Act3 2Selling the Nation’s Helium Reserve. Washington, DC. National Academies, 2010. 3Meeting with GE Healthcare. 7/17/2012 Picture courtesy of blm.gov

  10. DOI-BLM. <http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/energy/helium/federal_helium_program.html>.

  11. Legislation 1996 Helium Privatization Act4 • Based on debt to National Treasury • Required sell-off of helium at flat rate • Price mandated by government, not market • Did not accurately predict future uses of helium 4Selling the Nation’s Helium Reserve. Washington, DC. National Academies, 2010. Photo courtesy of eshopinflatables.com

  12. Upcoming Legislation 2012 Helium Stewardship Act5 • Allows Federal Helium Reserve to remain self-sustainable without government appropriations • Government phase out- no longer regulates prices • Slow phase out will allow for time to form new mines and keep market from a monopoly • Government shall conduct surveys on helium uses and reuse after two years 5S.2374 Helium Stewardship Act. Senator Bingaman.

  13. Helium’s Future • As applications increase the Federal Helium Reserve must remain operational- swift passage of S.2374 • House companion bill • New plants should be created • Reuse technology should be encouraged and mandated for large companies • Possible areas for public awareness

  14. References APS POPA & MRS. Energy Critical Elements: Securing Materials for Emerging Technologies. Washington, DC: APS, 2009. Print. Haynes, Mark. Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Hearing, Helium: Supply Shortages Impacting our Economy, National Defense and Manufacturing. 112th Cong. 2nd sess. House. 20 July 2012. Statement. Marcella, Orrin- GE Healthcare. Personal Interview. 17 July 2012. National Research Council. Selling the Nation’s Helium Reserve. Washington, DC: National Academies, 2010. Print. Rauch, Tom. Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Hearing, Helium: Supply Shortages Impacting our Economy, National Defense and Manufacturing. 112th Cong. 2nd sess. House. 20 July 2012. Statement. Reisch, Mark. “Helium Shortage to Affect Instrument Users to Extend into 2013,” Chemical and Engineering News 16 July 2012. Accessed: 1 Aug. 2012. United States. Cong. Senate. Senator Bingaman (D-NM). S. 2374 2012 Helium Stewardship Act.

  15. Acknowledgements WISE Interns and Sponsoring Societies ASME staff FMR Bill Behn Erica Wissolik John Buydos- Library of Congress Jodi Lieberman- APS Kelly Kryc- Committee of Energy and Natural Resources Orrin Marcella- GE Healthcare

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